Neakru Sovann-Thida Loeung

Neakru Sovann-Thida Loeung is a senior dance teacher teacher and longtime member of Angkor Dance Troupe (ADT). Her life in dance reflects both personal resilience and a profound devotion to preserving Khmer heritage for future generations.

A survivor of the Cambodian genocide, Neakru Sovann-Thida fled Cambodia and arrived in the United States in 1981 through a refugee resettlement program. Her earliest memories of dance stretch back to the 1970s, when she studied folk dances, including the Coconut Shell Dance, Krab Dance, Pestle Dance, and Umbrella Dance, at her elementary school in Cambodia. She continued dancing throughout her years in refugee camps and later as a young newcomer in Long Beach, California, where community dance became a source of connection, comfort, and continuity.

After moving to Lowell in 1985, Neakru Sovann-Thida discovered Angkor Dance Troupe and began training in Khmer classical dance for the first time. In the 1990s, she immersed herself in the discipline, studying both male roles and giant roles under the guidance of esteemed teachers and tradition bearers, including Neakru Phousita Huy, Neakru Sophiline Cheam Shapiro, Neakru Chea Samy, Neakru Maly Sam, Neakru Penh Yome, and Lokru Tim Thou. Her training deepened her understanding of classical technique and strengthened her commitment to safeguarding Cambodian cultural identity in the diaspora.

As a dance teacher and tradition bearer, Neakru Sovann-Thida has taught Khmer classical and folk dance in public schools across Lowell and in Peterborough, New Hampshire, sharing the richness of Khmer performing arts with students of many backgrounds. She has performed and taught in community celebrations, cultural festivals, and ADT programs, helping expand the presence and visibility of Cambodian arts throughout New England.

Today, Neakru Sovann-Thida continues to mentor younger dancers and support the artistic evolution of Angkor Dance Troupe. She often speaks of dancing as an act of healing and remembrance, an expression of hope after surviving profound loss and a celebration of life rebuilt through culture, community, and movement. Her dedication ensures that Khmer dance not only endures but thrives, offering strength and inspiration to new generations.